[NMCCSC] Updated Sandia Sunday report January 7

[RALPH WRONS]

Will second Lynn's call on the fabulous conditions, great coverage everywhere we skied. Estimated depth is something like 24"-28"
Slow drive up due to the road conditions described well by Lynn. Slipped a couple times, but otherwise good traction at 25 mph.
Party of nine, starting from Ellis PL around 9:30, we skied out the Survey trail, across the Crest road (enough packed snow that a few kept their skis on) and out to the overlook.
Stopped to look at the majestic medallion Ponderosa, AD1455 right off survey trail, about 1.75 miles after crossing crest road. 
Returned via the 10K trail, back to 10K PL, crossed road to get on the Challenge trail and back to the Ellis PL (at 9AM only 3 cars in lower lot, by the time we returned at 1PM, lower lot was packed). 
The descents on Survey and 10K were very fun.  It seemed most of the snowshoers were staying out of the ski tracks, but snow conditions were such that those that didn't, impacted the ski tracks very little. No ski wax needed for this cold of snow, at least for waxless skis.
As Lynn wrote, was very cold -- well below freezing at "warmest" time of day, coldest in the Ellis PL, with gusty winds, both at 9AM & 1PM.  More snow expected tonight and tomorrow AM and staying super cold (<20F at "warm" part of the day) over the next 3-4 days.

> On 01/07/2024 12:58 PM MST Lynn and John via NMCCSCeGroup <nmccscegroup at mailman.swcp.com mailto:nmccscegroup at mailman.swcp.com> wrote:
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> I-40/North 14: dry
> Crest Road: winter conditions above ski area. Narrow switchbacks; almost single lanes. Snow packed and can be icy.
> Parking: 9AM: Ellis upper lot, full. Ellis lower lot empty. 10K-mostly empty.
> Parking 11AM: Ellis upper and lower full and cars parked in the entrance area and along the road. Available parking at 10K.
> Traffic: 11AM; 30 cars coming up the Crest Road and three coming down.
> Snow: 12” new snow, fabulous conditions.
> Trails: Switchback: packed powder and some ski track; Klaus: wonderful packed powder; Service Road: ski area ran a groomer; i didn’t see any set tracks but if there were any the wind would have obliterated them.
> Wind: very cold and windy. Winds on average 20mph with gusts to at least 30mph. Switchback trail had some protection except near Kiwanis Meadow. Klaus trail was more protected.
> Temperature: unsure of temperature but very cold. It was a 2 jackets and a windbreaker kind of day. Neck gaiter or balaclava kind of day. Mittens, not gloves, kind of day. Small children and dogs would have blown away.
> Happy Trails. Lynn
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